Kolkata, WEST BENGAL :
DBT Senior Women Biosciences Award to Dr Nahid Ali, 04 May 2014.
Congratulations to Dr. Nahid Ali for ‘DBT Women Biosciences Award’ in Senior Category (2014).
source: http://www.iicb.res.in / CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology
Katwa Town (Purba Bardhaman District) , WEST BENGAL :
Nilufa Yasmin
Kolkata :
Nilufa Yasmin has scored a perfect 100% in the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) held in June 2025. She has qualified for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) in Bengali.
The UGC NET is a national-level exam that determines eligibility for the award of the JRF, a scholarship awarded to postgraduate students to pursue research that leads to a PhD.
Her result is being celebrated as an achievement. It came after two previous unsuccessful attempts. She appeared for the exam along with more than 7,52,000 candidates. Her score of 100% has placed her right at the top.
Belonging to the state of West Bengal, she feels proud of her language and identity.
“I am proud to be a Bengali. I take even greater pride in my subject, which is Bengali language, and I am determined to hold onto it as I move forward in life,” she told TwoCircles.net, with a sense of pride.
Nilufa, 26, comes from Katwa town in Purba Bardhaman district of West Bengal. Her academic performance from school through college has been excellent.
Lauding her success, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “Congratulations to Nilufa Yasmin of Katwa in Purba Bardhaman for scoring 100 percentile and securing first position in India in UGC-NET June, 2025 in Bengali and to Rikta Chakraborty of Kolkata for securing second position in India in UGC-NET June, 2025 in Mass Communication and Journalism. Your achievements have made our State proud. Congratulations to your parents/ guardians and teachers too.”
Nilufa said this recognition from the chief minister is an honour and a reminder for her to strive even harder in the future.
She is currently pursuing her PhD on Sangeet O Sahityer Melbondhon from the Burdwan University. Her research explores the connection between music and literature.
She has an interest in music. She learnt Rabindra Sangeet during her school years and has taken part in many singing competitions. She has won prizes in various categories, including a gold medal in Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti and classical ‘bhaktigeeti’.
“I am inspired by legendary singers like Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar,” she says.
She is a singer herself and has hosted a musical show titled ‘Eto Sur Eto Gaan’ on Doordarshan. She shares her singing performances on her You Tube Channel.
Her ambition is to become a professor in Bengali literature.
An avid reader who is inspired by her favourite authors such as Sarathchandra Chattopadhyay, Rabindranath Tagore, Procheta Gupta, among others, she aspires to be a professor of Bengali language and literature.
She has written 16 stories on themes such as women, social issues and romance. She hopes to publish them one day. She also wants to write a book.
Nilufa Yasmin with her parents
Nilufa says she owes her success to her sister and her parents who are in the field of education. She has a message for aspiring young girls and women: “Stand on your own feet first as financial freedom is the greatest form of freedom. Education brings dignity and teaches us to respect others. It is more important to be truly educated than just formally literate.”
She believes that food and language should not be used to create barriers.
Speaking about the alleged harassment and targeting of Bengali-speaking Muslims in different parts of the country, she says, “I am heartbroken by these incidents. One’s language, food and attire are personal choices and fundamental rights. Even though our country is independent, our mindset is yet to attain that freedom. Had we been free in thoughts, then no one would attack another for their language. This causes pain.”
source: http://www.twocircles.net / TwoCircles.net / Home> India News> India Politics> Indian Muslim> Lead Story> TCN Positive / by Nikhat Fatima, TwoCircles.net / August 10th, 2025
KERALA :
Malappuram:
P Hiba, the Muslim girl from Manjeri in Malappuram district, who topped the 2015 Kerala Medical Entrance Examination, while dedicating her success to her late father said she wanted to become a doctor with social commitment.
“I want to be a good doctor with social commitment and will use the opportunity to serve the society”, Hiba said while talking to reporters after the results.
“If you are driven by stern decision towards something, you will get for sure,” she added.
As per the state medical entrance exam results declared Wednesday, P. Hiba of Malappuram scored 954.7826 and stood first in the list.
Hiba had not expected the rank. “I was confident that I could make it to a government medical college in the State,” she said, without hiding her surprise at winning the first rank.
Hiba completed her Class 12 last year with 98 per cent marks from the Manjeri GBHSS and worked hard for the entrance examination last year.
She had joined an entrance examination centre at Pala in the beginning but left it owing to home sickness. She then joined Bhabha Institute of Sciences at Manjeri which proved to be a key factor in her success.
Hiba is keen to join MBBS at the Government Medical College, Kozhikode. But she is waiting for the results of the All India Medical Entrance Examination. She would not be in two minds if she gets admission at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.
Hiba was followed by Marium Rafi from Aluva who stood second with 944.3478. The third rank went to Ajeesh Sabu from Kollam, who also scored 944.3478.
Mariam termed her victory as grace of Allah and help and support extended by the parents and sister. She told a local news website that she never expected such an achievement.
Mariam is also preparing for the All India Medical Entrance Examination and will join All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) if she is blessed with a chance.
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> India / by ummid.com news network (headline edited) / May 22nd, 2015
MAHARASHTRA :
Nashik:
Continuing her dream run of academic success, Almas Nazim Syed of Government Medical College Nagpur, crossed yet another milestone by securing the top position in Maharashtra MBBS final exam, bagging 11 gold medals and a scholarship.
Daughter of Dr Syed Nazim, a general practitioner, Almas Nazim Syed, has topped every exam in her career, including the 2009 Maharashtra HSC board exam before the impressive performance in the Maharashtra MBBS final exams.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devenndra Fadnavis in Nashik to address the 14th Convocation of the Maharashtra University Health Sciences (MUHS), felicitated Almas Nazim Syed and also conferred on her citation and gold medals.
Along with Almas Nazim Syed, a total of 7,478 students from different streams of medicine were awarded with the convocation. Of these 71 gold medals were given to the students. Nine students were awarded with Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Interestingly, after topping the 2009 HSC exams, Almas Nazim Syed, whose brother was then studying in second year MBBS, had vowed to study medical science with specialisation in gynaecology, and build a hospital for poor people.
“I want to fulfil my mother’s desire that I open a nursing home or a hospital to serve the needy,” she had said.
Almas’ motivation, however, was her grandma Safiya, a writer.
“I wanted to be gynaecologist and open a hospital since I was in class 5. It was prompted by my grandmother telling us one day that she was not able to pursue her dream of opening a nursing home to look after children’s studies,” she said.
A vivid reader of novels, Almas is fully determined to achieve her target.
“Dare to dream. Have passion to fulfill that dream. Be persistent in hard work. Don’t be aimless in life”, were her words after cracking the 2009 HSC exams.
After clearing the MBBS finals and becoming a doctor, it will now be interesting to see how Almas Nazim Syed, married to a politician’s grandson in Akola, fulfils her mother’s desire to open her dream hospital for poor.
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Education & Career / by ummid.com news network / May 27th, 2015
Nagpur, MAHARASHTRA :
Nagpur:
Dr Anwar Siddiqui, head of Panchakarma at Shri KR Pandav Ayurveda College and founder of Kerala Ayurveda & Panchakarma, received the Influential Ayurvedacharya Award from Sakal and Baidyanath. The award recognized his contributions to Ayurvedic medicine and social service.
The event was attended by Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Baidyanath’s managing director Suresh Sharma, and 45 leading Ayurveda doctors from across India. Dr Siddiqui, a BAMS and MD in Panchakarma from Poddar Government Ayurveda College in Mumbai, also holds a Master’s degree in Sanskrit. He has authored the book Ayurvedic Detoxification in Obesity, published in Germany.
With more than two decades of practice, Dr Siddiqui has gained recognition for treating chronic illnesses through Panchakarma therapy. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he helped set up a free hospital in Pachpaoli, strengthening his reputation for service to both healthcare and the community. Dr Siddiqui is a prominent leader associated with Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and a member of its Maharashtra State Advisory Council.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / August 24th, 2025
UTTAR PRADESH :
New Delhi :
While media spotlight often shines on celebrities and politicians, the real engine of India’s progress runs on the resolve of countless unsung heroes who, away from limelight, quietly transform society.
From national defense to grassroots education, sports, science, and civil service, these individuals from Uttar Pradesh show how courage, compassion, and conviction can drive extraordinary change. Here are 10 such trailblazers whose stories deserve to be heard:
Captain Sariya Abbasi: A Woman in Uniform on the Frontlines
Hailing from a small city of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Captain Sayria Abbasi broke every convention to join the Indian Army. A graduate in Genetic Engineering and with plenty of job offers and career opportunities from big companies was not enough for her to pursue in life. The call of service for the motherland was too strong to be sacrificed.
The world noticed her as a soldier deployed at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India-China temporary border, manning an Air Gun. Today, Sariya leads drone-killer teams and operates L-70 anti-aircraft guns on the border. Her journey from an academic achiever to a defender of the nation’s borders is not just about military precision; it’s about shattering glass ceilings and reshaping how India imagines women in uniform.
Dr. Faiyaz Ahmad Fyzie: Voice for the Voiceless Pasmanda Community
Dr. Faiyaz Ahmad Fyzie, an AYUSH physician, is more than a healer—he is a public intellectual, columnist, translator, and relentless advocate for the Pasmanda (socially backward) Muslim community. Raised in modest conditions, his rise to national recognition is built on fearless writing and tireless grassroots work.
When even the Prime Minister refers to Pasmanda voices, Fyzie’s years of advocacy resonate. His pen continues to empower those whose struggles were long silenced. His work is a call to conscience—and a roadmap for inclusive discourse.
Mohammad Luqman Ali: Wrestling His Way to Glory and Degree
Wrestler Mohammad Luqman Ali, a student of Social Work at Jamia Millia Islamia, is balancing body and brain. Born in Amroha’s tiny village of Mohraka Patti, his father worked on the railways, and his mother gave him religious grounding. Despite limited resources, Luqman’s grit has earned him recognition in India’s wrestling circles.
From the mat to the classroom, his dual commitment shows that excellence doesn’t require compromise. It requires discipline, heart—and a family’s belief in you.
Rubina Rashid Ali: Reviving Mughal-Era Art with a Modern Mission
In a sun-drenched corner of Aligarh, Rubina Rashid Ali has quietly built a movement. Her work in floral appliqué embroidery, a legacy of Mughal art, now supports dozens of women in Aligarh and Rampur. What was once an undervalued craft monopolized by middlemen has been transformed by Rubina into a vehicle for women’s economic empowerment.
Her home resonates not only with the sound of needles and threads but also with the hum of independence. “Real artists were reduced to laborers,” she says. Today, she ensures their hands are not just working — but also earning.
Babban Mian: A Gaushala Keeper Inspired by His Mother’s Love
At Madhu Sudan Gaushalla in Bulandshahr, Babban Mian tends to cows not out of ritual, but reverence — inspired by his late mother Hamidunnisa Begum. “She loved cows like her own children,” he recalls. After she passed away in 2015, Babban vowed to preserve her legacy.
Despite being a Muslim in a Hindu-dominated tradition, he runs a government-recognized shelter rooted in compassion, not controversy. For him, animal welfare is a universal value — not a communal issue. His work quietly redefines what shared culture and interfaith harmony look like.
Khushboo Mirza: From Amroha to the Moon with ISRO
Khushboo Mirza, scientist at ISRO and part of the Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2 missions, is a stellar example of perseverance. After her father’s death when she was just seven, her mother raised three children alone, running a petrol pump and defying social norms.
Khushboo earned a Gold Medal in Electronics Engineering from AMU and was the youngest member of the Chandrayaan-1 checkout team. A practicing Muslim and a symbol of India’s scientific aspirations, she turned down corporate offers to reach for the stars—and took a whole generation of girls with her.
Zaheer Farooqui: A People’s Leader with a Vision for Purkazi
In western UP’s Purkazi, Zaheer Farooqui is rewriting what local leadership means. As Nagar Panchayat Chairperson, he donated land worth ₹1.5 crore for the area’s first Intermediate College and modernized local schools into PM Shri-certified institutions.
His initiatives go beyond classrooms. From India’s first double-storey government-run cow shelter to a gym for Muslim women, and one of the most sophisticated rural CCTV networks in the region — Farooqui’s governance is a blend of tradition and tech, equity and empowerment. His Tiranga Yatra revives local history, reminding citizens that patriotism is inclusive and action-oriented.
Dr. Farah Usmani: From AMU to Global Health Leadership
On a cold morning in New York, Dr. Farah Usmani stood outside an apartment, a folder in hand, her eyes bright with resolve. The daughter of Uttar Pradesh, she is today a formidable presence in global health policy.
n M.D. in Obstetrics & Gynecology from AMU, Farah sought impact beyond hospital walls. Armed with a Master’s in Health Policy from LSE and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, she’s led transformative health initiatives around the world. Her journey is one of intellect guided by idealism — a doctor who chose not just to heal individuals but to reform systems.
Anjum Ara: Bridging Communities Through Compassionate Policing
Hailing from Azamgarh’s Kamharia village, Anjum Ara, a 2012-batch IPS officer, has redefined the image of policing with a human touch. A computer engineer by training, her journey from Integral University to Senior Superintendent of Police in Shimla has been marked by integrity and reform. Known for her work in cybercrime and her community-focused policing model, Anjum is also a fierce advocate for girls’ education.
Together with her husband, IAS officer Yunus Khan, Anjum adopted the cause of Khushdeep, the daughter of a martyred soldier, pledging to support her upbringing. This act of empathy mirrors her professional ethos, proactive, principled, and deeply people-centered.
Mumtaz Khan: From Vegetable Stall to World Hockey Stage
From the bustling alleys of Lucknow’s Cantt area to the turf fields of South Africa, Mumtaz Khan’s journey is pure grit. Once helping her father at a vegetable stall, a single race at school changed her life when Coach Neelam Siddiqui noticed her speed. That moment set her on a course to become a leading forward in India’s Junior Women’s Hockey Team.
Her standout performance at the 2018 Youth Olympics, where she scored 10 goals, earned her national acclaim. Yet, Mumtaz remains rooted, balancing hope and humility as she eyes the Olympics. She is proof that dreams born in dusty streets can blaze across international arenas.
These ten changemakers hail from Uttar Pradesh, from narrow village lanes to bustling metros, from battlefields to laboratories. But they are united by one thing: quiet, relentless courage. In their lives, we find the India that persists, uplifts, and transforms—not with headlines, but with hard work.
Tap HERE to watch the video
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> The Changemakers / by Vidushi Gaur / May 24th, 2025
Mangaluru, KARNATAKA :
Mangaluru:
Rawoof Bunder (50), founder of Voice of Blood Donors, passed away on Wednesday afternoon at a private hospital in the city following a brief illness.
A resident of Bunder in Mangaluru, Rawoof was known for his social work and his active role in promoting blood donation.
He is survived by his wife, and two children.
source: http://www.english.varthabharati.in / Vartha Bharati / Home> Karavali / by Vartha Bharati / August 20th, 2025
Kishtwar (Jammu), JAMMU & KASHMIR :
For the past six days, Arif has been working tirelessly to rescue the victims, regardless of their faith, trapped under mounds of debris or washed away by torrents.
Arif Rashid during his rescue effort / The Telegraph
When fear and panic gripped Chositi village of Kishtwar on August 14, Arif Rashid went beyond the call of duty and put his life in danger to save lives, not caring who the victims were or where they came from.
A flash flood triggered by a cloudburst hit the remote mountain village last week, leaving behind a trail of destruction with scores dead and missing, more than 100 injured and homes, roads and bridges flattened.
Arif, who works as a driver for the free 108 ambulance service that works on a public-private partnership model, was a lucky survivor.
“It all unfolded in front of me. As I saw a mountain of water and debris unleashed on a small valley, I, like many others, started running for safety. But 10 minutes later, I realised there were a lot of people trapped under the debris and I should rush back,” Arif told The Telegraph over the phone from Kishtwar.
For the past six days, Arif has been working tirelessly to rescue the victims, regardless of their faith, trapped under mounds of debris or washed away by torrents. Hundreds of army, NDRF, police and CRPF personnel, along with several volunteers, have been helping in the rescue operation.
Multiple videos or pictures on social media paint Arif as a tireless rescuer. He lives in a village 25km from Chositi, both part of the larger Padder area of Kishtwar where Muslims are a small minority. Most of the victims were Hindu pilgrims.
Muslim-majority Kishtwar is a communally sensitive district in Jammu’s Chenab Valley, often in the news for the wrong reasons. But small efforts by individuals from both communities, like the one displayed by Arif, serve as a beacon of hope.
“I must have rescued 15 to 20 injured people and pulled several bodies from the debris. I first rescued an injured girl and several others. There were just two ambulances there, including ours. My ambulance was stuck in debris, but luckily only up to the tyres. With great effort, some of us pulled it out,” he said.
Moments later, he started shifting the injured towards the hospital, but the bridge nearby was damaged too. Ambulances started arriving from different places, and the injured were carried on shoulders to the other side of the damaged bridge before they were taken to the hospital.
On Monday, a video showed him and a few others lifting a body on a stretcher, walking through rocks, before tying it to a rope that was pulled by people on the other side of a stream. Arif said the body was found some 20km from Chositi.
“I am doing this all for the sake of humanity. For me, they are all humans and I do not think about anything else,” he said.
Also leading from the front are the volunteers of Ababeel, a group known for their assistance during emergencies in the Chenab Valley.
Syed Imran, a volunteer, said they camped in the village for five days. “There were more than 30 volunteers from our group, with nine ambulances, working in shifts. All these days we helped shift the deceased and injured to the hospitals,” he said.
The group has around 250 volunteers connected through WhatsApp, and among the first responders during calamities and accidents.
source: http://www.telegraphindia.com / The Telegraph Online / Home> India / by Muzaffar Raina / August 20th, 2025
Kheiku Village, MANIPUR :
Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik
New Delhi :
Manipuri people are gloating over Sqn Ldr. Rizwan Malik, son of the soil, being awarded Vir Chakra for his role in accurately striking targets inside Pakistan in Operation Sindoor.
Rizwan Malik is from No.102 Sqn of the Indian Air Force. According to Chief Minister N Biren Singh he is son of Alhaj Hafizuddin and Alhajan Waheeda Rehman of village Kheikhu.
On the eve of Independence Day the government announced Vir Chakra for nine Indian Air Force brave hearts who struck military assets and terrorist hubs inside Pakistan during the Operation.
It’s for the first time in the Military history of India that Indian Air Force gets so many VCs for a single operation. It’s the third highest honour for war-time bravery and courage given to soldiers.
He flew Su-30Mki to hit Pakistani assets.
List of Vir Chakra awardees
Social media is full of praises for Rizwan Malik being conferred with VC along with eight other IAF pilot on the Republic Day.
A spree of congratulatory messages posted on social media started from Chief Minister N. Biren Singh:
A former Maharaj of a Principality in Manipur also congratulated the son of the soil
A Rajasthan based defence analyst claimed Rizwan Malik had hit the Jaish-e-Muhammad headquarters in Bhawalpur, Punjab where an estimated 100 terrorists and their families died.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Aasha Khosa, ATV / August 18th, 2025
Narayanpur Village (Chhapra), BIHAR :
New Delhi :
Border Security Force’s Sub-Inspector Mohd Imteyaj and Constable Deepak Chingakham were posthumously awarded Vir Chakra, the third highest war-time gallantry award – in recognition of their exceptional courage and self-less leadership in the face of adverse situation
Sub Inspector Mohammad Imteyaj was martyred on May 10, during cross-border firing along the International Border in RS Pura sector, Jammu and Kashmir.
Constable Deepak Chingakham hailed from Manipur. He sustained grave injuries during the exchange of fire with Pakistanis on the international border in RS Pura and laid down his life for the nation,
Imteyaj hailed from Narayanpur in Garkha, in Saran district of Bihar.
BSF posted the list of awardees on X:
He was posted on the international border in Ranbirsinh Pura sector in Jammu. According to a Border Security Force (BSF) official, Sub-Inspector Mohammad Imtiyaz led the front bravely and made the supreme sacrifice.
He was buried with military honours in the cemetery located in Narayanpur village of Gadkha block of Saran district amid chanting of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” (Hail, mother India!). People showered their floral tributes on Imtiyaz’s body.
Mohammad Imtiyaz is survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters. BSF said Mohammad Imtiyaz led from the front.
As soon as the news of Mohammad Imtiyaz’s martyrdom reached his home, initially his village and later the entire district went into mourning. A large crowd gathered outside his house; people were trying to show their sympathy to the family and gratitude to the brave son of the soil.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Aasha Khosa, ATV / August 16th, 2025